Controlling means for machine-recorders.



A. O. JOHNSON.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR MACHINE REGORDERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEBJZ, 1913.

Patented Dec. 23,1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wil J lllllllllllll A. C. JOHNSON.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR MACHINE RECORDERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEBJZ, 1913 1,082,083, Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. C. JOHNSON.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR MAGHINB RBOORDERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEBJZ, 1913. 1 ,082,083 Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. 0. JOHNSON.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR MAGHINE REOORDERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.12, 1913.

1 ,O82,083, Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

5 SHEETSSHEET4 A. C. JOHNSON.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR MACHINE REGORDERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEBJZ, 1913,

1,082,083, Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

s SHEETS-SHEET 5.

VII

UNITED STATES PATENT o en AUSTIN C. JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

AUTOMATIC PRODUCTION METEB COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- IMon 01 MAINE.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR MACHINE-BECOItDEBS in my co-pending application,Serial To.

719,937, filed Sept. 12,1912.

. In the operation of automatic recording means for registering theexact operative production of machines controlled by an operator,certain difliculties have been encountered in the control. of the workrecording element. It is particularly desirable that means should beincluded whereby the time required for performing a certain operationmay be 'fixed by-the employer and any time used in completing suchoperation over and above the time fixed byth'e employer should beindicated on the machine as idle time. For instance, mechanism should beemployed whereby if' an operator takes two minutes to complete anoperation which should be completed in one minute, therecordinginstrument should show an operative period of one minute and anidle period of a minute. In the application referred to it was indicatedthat two switches must of necessity be actuated before a connectionwascompleted through .the recording devices; that is, a switch on thebelt shifter and a switch operable by the work passing through the.machine. However, with such a construction as just described, a workmanmight habitually take a much longer time for the completion of a pieceof work than a fellow worlnnan.

Nevertheless, his working time for the day would be as great if notgreater than if he completed a greater number of operations.

By the employment of mechanism such as shown herein on semi-automaticmachlnes, where the human element enters largely into the extentofproductivity and where a large number of workmen are employed in theproduction. of similar articles Specification of Letters Iatent.Application filed February 12, 1918. Serial No, 747,851.

Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

on duplicate machines, after tests a proper time limit is set withinwhich a complete operation should be completed. When this period of timeis determined, the timing switch of my device is-set for that length.for the completion of an operation has lapsed; the circuit will bebroken and the recording device will show the machine idlenotwithstanding the fact that the machine may still be in operation. Forthe slow worker therefore, the period of inactivity between workingperiodswill be increased whereas for the fast, worker who may completean operation before the time fixed as proper for such operation, the ofinactivity will be lessened.

The invention broadly" stated may be said to consist of a time recordingelement in circuit with a timing device whereby periods 4 of activityand inactivity are shown by the making and breaking of'a circuit andsaid timing device being in circuit with a shop machine and having meansassociated therewith whereby a pre-determined period required for thecompletion of an operation is fixed and the circuit broken through. therecording element ,at the expiration of said period irrespectiveof thecondition of activity or inactivity of the machine.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 ,is a diagrammatic view showing my novel controlling means, atime recording unit and the 'variousswitches necessary for the carryingout of the invention; Fig.

'2 is a front elevation, partly in section, of

a recording machine in which the recording units are placed; Fig. 3 is avertical section through the machine ShQWIl in Fig. 2, showmg therecording unit in detail; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a time switch whichmay be used; Fig. 5 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6is'a face view of a belt shifter switch; Fig. 7 is a side'view of thesame with the casing broken away;

periods Fig. 8 is a face view of a centrifugal switch; Fig. 9 isatransverse section through the construction shown in Fig. 8, and, Fig.10 is a detail elevation, partly in section, of another form of switchwhich may be used instead of that shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Eig. 1, which is adiagrammatic view of an arrangement such as contemplated by me, it willbe seen that I provide a recording unit 20, by means of which theoperative and idle time of a shop machine 21, may be recorded. Therecording unit and the shop machine are connected electrically, therebeing two switches 22, 23, interposed in the circuit. The former switchis adapted to be actuated manually by the belt shifter 24, whereby theswitch is closed when the power for operating the machine 21 is applied.The switch 23 is 0perated by the work passing through the machine.

In the preferable construction as applied to a planer such as shown, theswitch is actuated by centrifugal force and the circuit is not closedunless work is actually moving through the machine. The circuit 25,which is completed by the closing of the switches 22, 23, passes througha solenoid 26, forming a part of a timing device 27] A motor 28, orother source of electrical energy is interposed in, the circuit. It willbe seen by the diagrammatic illustration of the arrangement that eventhough both switches are closed in proper manner, that- 'the recordingunit 20 will not be actuated,

this unit being in circuit with the timing device 27 and operablethereby. Thus it will be seen that the actuation of the re cordingdevice is brought about by the timing device and that the timing deviceis in turn controlled to a certain extent by the solenoid 26, which isexcited by the current passing through the closed switches cated in thediagrammatic View by the numerals 20, 22, 23 and 27 in detail in order Twill describe the different elements indithat'their operation may beunderstood.

The recording deoice.-A device which. is

suitable .for the purpose indicated and a duplicate of which is hereillustrated, is

shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 719,937, filed Sept. 12,1912, above referred to. Inasmuch as the details of such constructionform 'no part of the present invention, I will not describe themspecifically. Such a machine -includes a base 29, having upwardlyprojecting brackets 30, in which is maintained a transverse shaft 31,carrying a drum 32. This drum and a similar drum atthe top of themachine, notshown, provide asupport for a chart 33.

.This chart is given constant travel by means of suitable clockmechanism 34, motion being first imparted "to the lower drum 32. Alsosecured to the transverse shaft 31, is a gear 35, normally meshing witha pinion 36, carried by a shaft 37, which shaft is mounted in thebrackets 38, supported by a table 39, which table or platform is adapted.for bodily sliding movement on the shafts 40, supportedabovethe base29, of the machine on apertu red standards 41. The movement of the table39 is imparted thereto by means of a shaft 42, carrying cams 43, saidcams engaging the bifurcated downward projection 44, secured to thetable 39. The shaft 37, which is supported in the brackets 38, also hasmounted thereon gear wheels 45, spaced apart by suitable collars andfrictionally engaging each other and the shaft by means of suitablesprings 46. Thus the gears 45 normally rotate with the shaft 37 beingfrictionally held thereon. A cross member 47, extends between thebrackets 38, and carries a plurality of pairs of electrical contacts 48,said contacts being shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The recording units, ofwhich there may be any desired number, are remo-vably mounted on thebase 39, being held in place by thumb-screws 49. These units being induplicate, but one thereof will be described. The frame 50, of a unit,carries a pair of magnets 51, having electrical connections whichterminate in contacts 52, cotiperating with the contacts 48 heretofore.described. An armature 53, is secured to and oscillates with a shortshaft 54, having a bearing in the frame 50, this shaft also havingsecured thereto a marking finger-55, which finger carries at its point apen or pencil and contacts the moving sheet 33. The mechanism justdescribed marks the sheet in such manner as to indicate the active andidle time of the shop machine to which it is connected. The total ofsuch times might be. determined from the sheet itself, but this would bea laborious process. I have therefore combined with the unit anaccumulating mechanism comprising a gear 56, meshing with the gear 45,on the shaft 37. This gear carries on one face a helical groove withwhich a pin. or an indicator 57 cooperates. The indicator 57 is pivotedat 58, to a portion of the casing or frame 50'of the unit. It will beseen that as the gear rotates in the direction of the arrow,theindicator will gradually be moved toward the periphery of thegear-and by such arrangement hours are indicated on the arc-shaped dial59, of the unit. In order to indicate minutes on the dial 59, I provide1.0mm a gear 56. The armature 53, which is moved by thepassage ofcurrent through the magnets 51, and which in turn causes the movement ofthe marker 55, cooperates with one through the'magnets, the armature ispressed provided for by against the face of the gear by means of asuitable spring 62, thus preventing the rotation of the gear. However,as the shaft 37 is constantly rotated, it will be seen that the gear 45must sli on the shaft, this being the frictional connection between thegear and the shaft. However, as the current is passed through themagnets 51, the operation of the parts continues. It is believed. thatwith this description, the operation of the recording device will beunderstood; i v v The belt shifter switch-This switch, indicateddiagrammatically as 22, is shown in detail in'Figs. -6 and 7, and.comprises a casing 63, within which are mounted two contacts 64, 65. Acam 66 is carried on the end of a short shaft 67, and is rotated bymeans of an arm 68, suitably connected to the belt shifter lever. Itwill be seen that when the belt is shifted, the high part of the camwill cause the contacts 64, 65, to be brought into engagement and thecircuit closed. I e

The shop machine s'im'tch.This switch, as indicated at 23, in Fig. 1, isactuated centrifugally by the passage of work through the machine, theapplication being shown to a planer. As specifically described, theswitch as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, comprises a casing 69, within which ismounted a transverse shaft-70, carrying on its outer end a wheel71,which may be toothed or in some similar manner engage the work as itspasses through the machine. A gear 72, is connected to the shaft 70,andmeshes with a small pinion 73, on a hollow shaft 74. Secured to theshaft 74 is a tubular member 75, carrying therein balls 76, normallypressed toward the axial center by springs 77. These balls engage a cam78, which cam is connected to a stem 79 extending through the hollowshaft 74, and separating the contacts 80. The movable member of thecontact 80 is a spring which normally tends to force the stem 79inwardly. It will be seen that as the tubular member is rapidly rotated,the centrifugal force will tend to throw the balls 76 outwardly andthereby permit the inward movement of the cam 78 and stem 79 and allowthe making of the contact 80.

The construction shown in-Fig. 10, may be employed on a shop machine incase the machine is not adapted to use the switch shown in Fig. 8; thatis, on some. machines the work is merely inserted against a permanentstop, certain operations being performed and the work removed. In suchcase a switch such as shown in Fig. 10 may be employed. In thisconstruction there is provided a casing 81 within which suitablyinsulated are contacts 82, 83, the latter being a spring member normallyremaining out of contact with the part 82. Bearing against the contact83 is a cam 84, connected to a pinion 85, which pinion is in mesh withthe threaded stem 86 of the member 87, having a contact piece 88, on oneend thereof. The member 87 is normally held in the position shown in thedrawings by means of a coiled spring 89. Assuming that the contact piece88 is placed in the path of the work inserted in the machine, the member87 will be retracted causing rotation of the pinion 84, and the joiningof the contacts 82, 83, by reason of the higher part of the cam 84. Itwill be seen that but very slight movement is necessary to cause theclosing of the circuit and that irrespective of the increased movement,the degree of pressure will be the same.

The timing device-Referringnow to the timing device 27, shown in Figs.1, 4 and 5,

motating constantly at a uniform speed.

The ends of the shaft 92 have bearings in the supports 93, whichsupports also carry fixed shafts 94 extending parallel with the threadedshaft and carry the actuating member which consists of a frame 95, suitably apertured to accommodate the fixed shafts, to which frame isconnected at tubular part 96, having an enlargement 97, on theouter endthereof. A bracket 98 is extended from the face of the enlargement 97,and provides in an apertured right-angled portion, a bearing'for theouter end of a reciprocatory' shaft 99, carrying a collar 100,

a spring 101 extending between the collar and the right-angled portion,wherebythe shaft 99 is normally forced inwardly, said shaft extendingthrough the tubular portion 96, and havinga point engagin the threadedshaft 92. Pivoted to the en argement 97 is a tripping lever- 102, havinga right-angled lug 103, which lu'g is adapted to be seated behind thecollar 100, when the shaft 99 is retracted. The lever 102 is held inproper relation by means of a spring 104. Carried by a bracket 105,secured to the frame 95, is a member 106, constructed of fiber ornon-conducting material and wedgeshaped at its point, this member beingadapted to break a contact 107, best shown in Figs. 1 and 5. In orderthat the actuating member may be returned properly, I provide the springdrpm 108, and cord 109,

a suitconnected to the tubular member 96. In order to limit the returnof the actuating member and to operate the tripping lever 102, I providea combined stop and tripping arm which consists of an .apertured member110, slidably mounted on one of the shafts 94c, and held in adjustedposition by means of a thumb-nut '111. An arm 112 projects from the part110, into the path of the tripping lever 102. Also forming part of thetiming device is the solenoid 26, having a core 113, which core isnormally held in the position shown in Fig. 4, by means of a coiledspring 114-. outer end of the core 113, is a'lever 115, which lever isalso pivoted loosely to an arm 116, secured to a support 93. The lever115, as shown in Fig. 5, has a pointed beveled end and is adapted torest in front of the shoulder 100, on the shaft 99, when the ac tuatingmember has advanced to the properpoint. It will be seen that upon theactuation of the solenoid the core will be drawn inward, the lever 115,swung on its pivot and the shaft 99 forced outwardly and. its pointdisengaged from the threaded shaft 92. When in this position the lug 103on the tripping lever 102 will drop behind the collar 100 and hold theshaft in retracted.

position. Upon the disengagement of the shaft 99, from the threadedshaft 92, the actuating member will be drawn backward by the force ofthe spring drum 108, until contact is had wit-h the stop 110, and thelever 102 contacts the arm 112, whereupon the arm 102 is trippedpermitting the spring 101 to force the shaft 99 inwardly with itsgagement of the spring contact points 118.v The line shaft 91, it isunderstood, may

actuate all of the units.

The operation of the timing devlce may be as follows: Assuming that theconnec- -tions have been made as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, theemployer determines in a desirable manner the proper time which shall beconsumed by a workman in finishing a certain operation on a shopmachine. The stop and tripping arm 110, 112, are then located in suchposition that with the threaded shaft 92 rotating, an equal time will beconsumed in traveling from the stop to a point where the wedge- Looselypivoted to the though the machine may still be in productive operation.During this time the solenoid 26 will be actuated and the lever 115 heldin a tilted position from that shown in Fig. 4. However, as soon as theoperation on the shop machine is completed the circuit through thesolenoid will be broken, and the spring 11 1 will return the arm 11:? tothe position shown in Fig. 4, and the collar 102, of the shaft 99, beingin the plane movement of the end of the lever 115, the lever will shiftlaterally against the resistance of the coiled spring 119, and seatbehind the collar 100. As soon as the circuit is again closed throughthe solenoid 26 by the beginning of productive operation in the shopmachine, the solenoid will be actuated, the lever 115 moved, thusretracting the shaft 99, and allowing the actuating member to bereturned to the point permitted by the stop 110, whereupon the operationis repeated. By this means it will be seen that should a workman behabitually requiring greater time for the completion ofan operation thanis thought to be necessary, the extra time required will .not becredited to him but will'show the will be to show a less period of timebetween operations, the length of time for each operation being the sameas for a man who works more slowly. Thus the timing device is equitableto both classes of workers.

To sum up the advantages of the invention as herein disclosed, it may besaid that they consist in providing means for fixing the proper periodof time required to complete a certain operation on a certain machine;then automatically registering the efforts of the workman on the shopmachine to maintain. his production equal to the Unless the shop machineis operated and -the switch, indicating the insertion and removal ofwork actuated at proper intervals, the timing device and consequentlythe recording device will not operate at all and will show the shopmachine to be idle.

It is obvious that the mechanisms herein shown are typical of manyothers .which might be devised in order to secure a similar result. I donot therefore wish to be lim1t-' previously terminated by cessation ofopera tion of the primary mechanism. In this sense the shop machine maybe considered the primary mechanism and the recording device as thesecondary mechanism.

I claim:

1. In controlling means of the class 'de-' scribed, the combination of arecording de-j Vice, a timing device electrically connected to therecordin device, means on said timing device or periods whereby saidrecording device shall e actuated at the beginning and after theexpiration of an oplerating period, a switch associated with a sop-machine, saidswitch being electrically connected to said timingdevice, the arrangement being such that the beginning of an operatingperiod on said timing device is controlled by the operating of theswitch on the shop machine, sub.- stantially as described. v

2. In' controlling means of the class de-' scribed, the combination of arecording device, a timing device electrically connected to therecording device, means on said timing device for setting up operatingperiods whereby said recording device shall be actuated at the beginningand after the expiration of an operating period, a switch associatedwith a shop machine, said switch being electrically connected tosaidtiming device, the be 'nning of an operating period being determined bythe operation of the switch on the shop machine, the ending of theoperating period'being determined by mechanism on the timing device,substantially as described.

3. In controlling means for recording dc vices, the combination of atiming device in circuit with a recording device, said timing deviceactlng as the recorder-actuatingmeans, a switch operatlvely, connectedto a shop setting up operating machine, said timing dew ice beingseparately in circuit-with said switch, means for setting up operatingperiods on said timing device, said recorder being actuated electricallyat the beginning and end of an operating period, the beginning of suchperiod being determined by the insertion of work into the shop machineand the actuation of the switch in circuit with said timing device,substantially as' described.

4. In means of the class described, the combination of a recordingdevice and a timing device for actuating the same, a constantly rotatingmember and an actuating member associated with said timing device andarranged whereby motion is imparted to said actuating member,substantially as described.

5. In means of the class described, the combination of a, recordingdevice and a timing device for actuating the same, a constantly rotatingmember and an actuating member associated with said timing device andarranged whereby motion is imparted to said actuating member, and meansfor tripping said actuating member, said tripping means being actuatedby a shopmachine. substantially as described. a 6. In means of the classdescribed, the

combination of a recording device and a timing device for actuating thesame said timing device including a constantly rotating worm, anactuating member adapted to be moved in one direction by said worm,means for limiting the travel of said actuating member, and means fortripping said actuating member, said means being operated by a shopmachine, substantially as described.

7. In means of the class described, the combination of a recordingdevice and a timing device for actuating the same, said devices beingelectrically connected, said timing device including a constantlyrotating member and an actuating member movedthereby, theelectricalconnection between said recording device and said timingdevice being changed by said actuating member as it reaches the end ofits travel,

substantially as described.

I 8. In means of the class described, the combination of a recordingdevice and a timing device for actuating the same, said devices beingelectrically connected, said timing device including a constantlyrotating member and an actuating member moved thereby, the electricalconnection between said recording device and said timing device beingchanged by said actuating member as it reaches the end of its travel,and electrical means for tripping said actuating member, substantiallyas described.

9. In means of the class described, the combination of a recordingdevice and a timing device for actuating'the same, said deviees beingelectrically connected, said timing device including a constantlyrotating member and an actuating membermoved thereby, the electricalconnection between said recording devi'ce'and said timing device beingchanged by said actuating m ember as it reaches the end of its travel,said tripping means being controlled by a shop machine,

substantially as described.

10. In a timing device, the combination of a constantly rotating member,an actuating member associated with said constantly rotating member andadapted to be moved thereby, means for tripping said actuating member atthe end of its travel, and means for varying the extent of return travelof said member, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a shop machine, of an electric circuit, arecording device interposedin said circuit, a switch in said circuitarranged to be actuated by the efiicient operation of the shop machineto close said circuit, means for holding said switch open while the shopmachine is not-in eflicientoperation, a timing device arranged to breaksaid circuit at the end of a predetermined time period after saidcircuit has .been. closed and during the continued efiicient operationof the shop machine, and means for moving said recording device tonon-recording position whenever said circuit is broken.

12. The combination with a recording machine provided with a recordingarm, of a shop machine, an electric. circuit, a switch arranged to beclosed by and during the eificient operation of the shop machine and tobe open at all other times, means actuated by the closing of saidcircuit to move said arm to recording position, and a timing mechanisminterposed in said circuit and operating to break said circuit duringthe continued efficient operation of the shop machine at the end of apredetermined time period beginning whenever said circuit is closed bythe operation of said shop machine.

13. The combination with a shop'machine, of an electric circuit, arecording device interposed in said circuit, and a switch for closingsaid circuit, said switch comprising a friction wheel adapted to beengaged by work passing through said shop machine,

of contact points in said circuit, means tending to bring said contactpoints together, means tending to hold said contact points apart, andmechanism actuated by the rotation of said friction wheel to move saidlastnamed means from its normal position so. as to permit saidcontactpoints to be brought into electrical contact with each other.

15. The combination with a shop machine, of an electric circuit, .arecording device interposed in said circuit, and a switch for closingsaid circuit,.said switch comprising a friction wheel adapted to engagework passing through said shop machine, a pair of electrical contacts insaid circuit, means tending to bring said contacts together, a shaft,gearing interposed between said shaft and the shaft of said frictionwheel, a pin longitudinally slidable in said shaft, a hollow membersecured to said shaft, cams in operative engagement with said pin, apair of balls arranged in said hollow member in engagement with saidcams, and springs arranged to hold said balls in contact with said camsso as to normally hold said pin in position to hold said contact pointsapart, all so arranged that the rotation of said friction wheel willdrive said shaft and cause said balls to move by centrifugal forceagainst said springs and into such position with relation to said camsas to permit said pin to move away from said contact points,

thereby permitting said contact points to come into electricalengagement with each other.

AUSTIN C. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

CHAS. F. MURRAY, T. D. BUTLER.

It is-hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,082,083, grantedDecember 23, 1913, upon the application of Austin C. ohnson of Chieago,Illinois, for fin improvement in Controlling Means forMachine-Recorders, an error appears in the printed specificationrequiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 114, for the word or readon; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correctiontherein'that the same may conforrn'to the record of the'ca.se in' thePatent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of February, A. D., 1914.

[slant] J. T. NEWTON Acting Commissioner ofPatenta.

